REACTOGENICITY AND SAFETY OF MENINGOCOCCAL-A AND MENINGOCOCCAL-C VACCINE IN SAUDI CHILDREN

During an outbreak caused by group A Neisseria meningitidis in March 1 992, groups A and C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine was administe red to 1,168 children aged from 2 to 18 years. Parents were surveyed t o ascertain reactions of children to the vaccine and development of in vasive group A meningococcal disease after immunization. The most comm on reactions were mild local pain (21.9%), erythema (12.2%), and swell ing at the injection site (7.2%). Only 1.7% of the children experience d fever and 3.7% displayed irritability. The vaccine was well tolerate d and all adverse reactions disappeared within 24-48 hours of immuniza tion. No cases of meningitis or sepsis caused by group A meningococci were seen in the 1st 12 months of observation among the vaccinated chi ldren.